The Village of Ruidoso enacted Level II fire restrictions on March 10, 2025, to reduce wildfire risk during severe drought. Certain outdoor activities and equipment use will be limited or prohibited to protect public safety. Residents and visitors should familiarize themselves with the full guidelines and exercise caution until conditions improve.

Lincoln National Forest Enters Stage 1 Fire Restrictions

Due to dry conditions, Lincoln National Forest has implemented Stage 1 Fire Restrictions effective March 10, 2025. Campfires and charcoal grills are limited to developed campsites or picnic areas with agency-built fire rings. Dispersed campfires are prohibited, and smoking is restricted to enclosed vehicles or buildings. Chainsaw use remains permitted.

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CAVE CREEK FIRE - FINAL UPDATE

RUIDOSO, NM - March 24. 2025 - At approximately 6:31 PM this evening, a grassfire was reported on BLM property, located approximately 14 miles northeast of the Village of Ruidoso. The fire, now named the Cave Creek Fire, quickly spread through dry vegetation, aided by light winds.

Initial attack resources from Bonito Fire, Lincoln Fire, Lincoln Fire Services, and mutual aid partners responded swiftly. Thanks to their coordinated efforts, forward progress was successfully halted.

The fire is currently estimated at 4 to 5 acres. Command of the incident has since been transferred to the Village of Ruidoso Fire Department due to the fire being in the Village airport property.

At this time, VOR fire personnel remain on-scene conducting mop-up operations. Crews are actively working to secure the fire perimeter and extinguish remaining hotspots to prevent flare-ups.

Weather conditions remain mostly clear, with overnight lows around 45°F and light west winds near 5 mph. Firefighters are continuing to monitor for any weather-related changes that could impact containment.

No structures were damaged during the incident, and there are no reported impacts to airport infrastructure. One civilian injury has been reported. Airport operations remained normal, and no evacuations were required.

For the latest Lincoln County NM wildfire information, visit https://app.watchduty.org/

While the fire danger in the forest has decreased from “extreme” to “moderate”, the potential for large wildfires remains.

The public is urged to remain vigilant when they visit the forest. Remember to use any fire source in a cautious manner. Never leave a campfire unattended. When you do leave your campfire, make sure to drown it with water, stir, and feel for any remaining heat.

Regardless of the change in restrictions and danger level, the potential for a large wildfire remains, and so forest staff urges the public to remain vigilant and use any fire source in a safe and non-destructive manner.

Remember – fireworks are never permitted on federal land.

Call Me Ruidoso is the official emergency alert and notification system for the Village of Ruidoso. This system is used to send alerts to the public and internally to Village employees during emergencies. Sign up for Alerts here.

For detailed information on fire incidents and emergency operations, follow these trusted sources:

• InciWeb: The national incident management system for fire information. Visit https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/ 

• NMRoads: Check real-time road conditions, closures, and travel alerts across New Mexico. Visit https://nmroads.com/mapIndex.html?

• WatchDuty App: Download the WatchDuty app to receive alerts you of nearby wildfires and firefighting efforts in real-time. Visit https://app.watchduty.org/

By staying connected through these channels, you'll have access to the information you need to make safe and informed decisions.